Abstract

During the past decades, the prevalence and incidence of heart failure (HF) have continued to increase due to improved survival from myocardial infarction and the increasing number patients aged 65 years and over <[Cowie et al, 1999]; [Tunstall-Pedoe et al, 1999]; [Capewell et al, 2001]; [Davis et al, 2002]>. Rehospitalization rates for HF remain substantial, with at least thirty percent of elderly patients readmitted within one year, to as many as fifty percent at 6 months <[Gooding and Jette, 1985]; [Vinson et al, 1990]; [Cline et al, 1996]; [Chin and Goldman, 1997]; [Krumholz et al, 1997]; [Cowie et al, 2002]>. Despite improvements in the treatment of HF, data from a recent …